North Dakota Outdoors February 2024 by ndgnf

DEPARTMENT DIRECTORY Governor Doug Burgum ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION Game and Fish Director: Jeb Williams Deputy Director: Scott Peterson Chief, Administrative Services: Kim Kary Federal Aid Manager: Corey Wentland Administrative Staff Officer: Justin Mattson Administrative Assistant: Lynn Timm Building Maint. Supervisor: Brandon Diehl Administrative Officer: Melissa Long, Alan Peterson Accounting Manager: Angie Morrison Accountants: Kelly Wike, Ashley Hillerson Business Operations Manager: Brian Hosek Technical Operations Lead: Alan Reile Data Scientist: Shane Wegner Licensing Manager: Randy Meissner Assistants: Amanda Anstrom, Tracy Price, Tana Bentz, Tanya Mikkelsen, Elizabeth Klein Administrative Assistant – Dickinson: Stephanie Richardson Administrative Assistant – Devils Lake: Lisa Tofte Administrative Assistant – Jamestown: Tonya Kukowski Administrative Assistant – Riverdale: Mattea Bierman CONSERVATION AND COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION Division Chief: Greg Link, Bismarck Communications Supervisor: Greg Freeman, Bismarck Editor: North Dakota OUTDOORS: Ron Wilson, Bismarck R3 Coordinator: Cayla Bendel, Bismarck Digital Media Editor: Lara Anderson, Bismarck Video Project Supervisor: Mike Anderson, Bismarck Photographer/Videographer: Ashley Peterson, Bismarck Marketing Specialist: Jackie Ressler, Bismarck Information Specialist: Dawn Jochim, Bismarck Graphic Artist: Kristi Fast, Bismarck Education Supervisor: Marty Egeland, Bismarck Education Coordinator: Jeff Long, Bismarck Hunter Education Coordinator: Brian Schaffer, Bismarck Outreach Biologists: Doug Leier, West Fargo; Greg Gullickson, Minot; Jim Job, Grand Forks Conservation Supervisor: Bruce Kreft, Bismarck Resource Biologists: John Schumacher, Aaron Larsen, Bismarck Conservation Biologists: Sandra Johnson, Patrick Isakson, Elisha Mueller, Bismarck Administrative Assistant: Amber Schroeter, Bismarck ENFORCEMENT DIVISION Division Chief: Scott Winkelman, Bismarck Investigative Supervisor: Jim Burud, Kenmare Investigator: Blake Riewer, Grand Forks Operations Supervisor: Jackie Lundstrom, Bismarck Warden Pilot: Jeff Sieger, Bismarck Region No. 1 Warden Supvr: Mark Pollert, Jamestown District Wardens: Corey Erck, Bismarck; Michael Sedlacek, Fargo; Andrew Dahlgren, Milnor; Erik Schmidt, Linton; Greg Hastings, Jamestown; Noah Raitz, LaMoure Region No. 2 Warden Supvr: Paul Freeman, Devils Lake District Wardens: Jonathan Tofteland, Bottineau; Jonathan Peterson, Devils Lake; James Myhre, New Rockford; Alan Howard, Cando; Drew Johnson, Finley; Sam Feldmann, Rugby; Gage Muench, Grand Forks Region No. 3 Warden Supvr: Joe Lucas, Riverdale District Wardens: Ken Skuza, Riverdale; Michael Raasakka, Stanley; Connor Folkers, Watford City; Shawn Sperling, Minot; Keenan Snyder, Williston, Josh Hedstrom, Tioga; Riley Gerding, Kenmare; Clayton Edstrom, Turtle Lake Region No. 4 Warden Supvr: Dan Hoenke, Dickinson District Wardens: Kylor Johnston, Hazen; Zachary Biberdorf, Bowman; Courtney Sprenger, Elgin; Zane Manhart, Golva; Jerad Bluem, Mandan; Zachary Schuchard, Richardton Administrative Assistant: Lori Kensington, Bismarck WILDLIFE DIVISION Division Chief: Casey Anderson, Bismarck Assistant Division Chief: Bill Haase, Bismarck Game Mgt. Section Leader: Stephanie Tucker, Bismarck Pilot: Jeff Faught, Bismarck Upland Game Mgt. Supvr: Jesse Kolar, Dickinson Upland Game Mgt. Biologist: Rodney Gross, Bismarck Migratory Game Bird Mgt. Supvr: Mike Szymanski, Bismarck Migratory Game Bird Biologist: Jacob Hewitt Big Game Mgt. Supvr: Bruce Stillings, Dickinson Big Game Mgt. Biologists: Brett Wiedmann, Dickinson; Jason Smith, Jamestown Survey Coordinator: Chad Parent, Bismarck Wildlife Veterinarian: Dr. Charlie Bahnson, Bismarck Wildlife Health Biologist: Mason Ryckman, Bismarck Game Management Biological Technician: Ryan Herigstad, Bismarck Wildlife Resource Management Section Leader: Kent Luttschwager, Williston Wildlife Resource Mgt. Supvrs: Brian Prince, Devils Lake; Brian Kietzman, Jamestown; Dan Halstead, Riverdale; Blake Schaan, Lonetree; Levi Jacobson, Bismarck Wildlife Resource Mgt. Biologists: Randy Littlefield, Lonetree; Rodd Compson, Jamestown; Judd Jasmer, Dickinson; Todd Buckley, Williston; Jake Oster, Riverdale Wildlife Biological Technicians: Tom Crutchfield, Jim Houston, Bismarck; Dan Morman, Robert Miller, Riverdale; Jason Rowell, Jamestown; Brandon Ramsey, Trevor Pike, Lonetree; Scott Olson, Devils Lake; Zach Eustice, Williston Private Land Section Leader: Kevin Kading, Bismarck Habitat Manager: Nathan Harling, Bismarck Private Land Field Operation Supvrs: Curtis Francis, East Region, Andrew Dinges, West Region, Bismarck Private Land Biologists: Colin Penner, Jens Johnson, Bismarck; Jaden Honeyman, Ryan Huber, Riverdale; Renae Schultz, Jeff Williams, Jamestown; Terry Oswald, Jr., Lonetree; Andrew Ahrens, Devils Lake; Erica Sevigny, Williston Procurement Officer: Dale Repnow, Bismarck Administrative Assistant: Alegra Powers, Bismarck Lonetree Administrative Assistant: Diana Raugust, Harvey FISHERIES DIVISION Division Chief: Greg Power, Bismarck Fisheries Mgt. Section Leader: Scott Gangl, Bismarck Fisheries Supvrs: Russ Kinzler, Dave Fryda, Riverdale; Paul Bailey, Bismarck; Brandon Kratz, Jamestown; Aaron Slominski, Williston; Bryan Sea, Devils Lake Fisheries Biologists: Todd Caspers, Devils Lake; Mike Johnson, Jamestown; Jeff Merchant, Dickinson; Zach Kjos, Riverdale Fisheries Biological Technicians: Phil Miller, Devils Lake; Justen Barstad, Bismarck; Brian Frohlich, Riverdale; Lucas Rott, Jamestown; Ethan Krebs, Williston Production/Development Section Supvr: Jerry Weigel, Bismarck Aquatic Nuisance Species Coordinator: Benjamin Holen, Jamestown Aquatic Nuisance Species Biologists: Mason Hammer, Kyle Oxley, Jamestown Fisheries Development Supvr: Bob Frohlich, Bismarck Fisheries Dev. Proj. Mgr: Wesley Erdle, Bismarck Fisheries Development Specialist: Kyle Hoge, Jacob Heyer, Bismarck Administrative Assistant: Janice Vetter, Bismarck ADVISORY BOARD District 1 ............................................................................................................Beau Wisness, Keene District 2 ..................................................................................................................Travis Leier, Velva District 3 ................................................................................................ Edward Dosch, Devils Lake District 4 ....................................................................................................... Karissa Daws, Michigan District 5 ............................................................................................... Doug Madsen, Harwood District 6 .........................................................................................................Cody Sand, Ashley District 7 ..................................................................................................Jody Sommer, Mandan

A record number of Canada geese were estimated along the Missouri River System during the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s annual midwinter waterfowl survey in early January. The full story on the annual survey can be found on page 22.

Contributing photographers for this issue: Mike Anderson, Sandra Johnson, Jesse Kolar, Ashley Peterson and Ty Stockton. Official publication of the North Dakota Game and Fish Department (ISSN 0029-2761) 100 N. Bismarck Expressway, Bismarck, ND 58501-5095 Website: gf.nd.gov • Email: ndgf@nd.gov • Information 701-328-6300 • Licensing 701-328-6335 • Administration 701-328-6305 • North Dakota Outdoors Subscriptions 701-328-6363 • Hunter Education 701-328-6615 • The TTY/TTD (Relay ND) number for the hearing or speech impaired is 800-366-6888

Periodical Postage Paid at Bismarck, ND 58501 and additional entry offices. Printed in the United States POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: North Dakota OUTDOORS 100 North Bismarck Expressway Bismarck, ND 58501-5095

Report All Poachers (RAP) 701-328-9921 In cooperation with North Dakota Wildlife Federation and North Dakota State Radio.

The mission of the North Dakota Game and Fish Department is to protect, conserve and enhance fish and wildlife populations and their habitats for sustained public consumptive and nonconsumptive use. ■ Editor: Ron Wilson

■ Graphic Designer: Kristi Fast

■ Circulation Manager: Dawn Jochim

FEBRUARY 2024 • NUMBER 7 • VOLUME LXXXVI

CONTENTS 2

My 2 Cents

2023 Deer Drawing

2023 Enforcement Division Review

Trimming a Bloated Bullhead Population

Quarter Million Graduates and Counting

Buffaloberry Patch

Back Cast

North Dakota OUTDOORS is published 10 times a year, monthly except for the months of April and September. Subscription rates are $10 for one year or $20 for three years. Group rates of $7 a year are available to organizations presenting 25 or more subscriptions. Remittance should be by check or money order payable to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. Indicate if subscription is new or renewal. The numbers on the upper right corner of the mailing label indicate the date of the last issue a subscriber will receive unless the subscription is renewed. Permission to reprint materials appearing in North Dakota OUTDOORS must be obtained from the author, artist or photographer. We encourage contributions; contact the editor for writer and photography guidelines prior to submission. The NDGFD receives Federal financial assistance from the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the US Coast Guard. In accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the NDGFD joins the US Department of the Interior and its Bureaus and the US Department of Homeland Security in prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex (in education programs or activities) and also religion. If you believe you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility as described above, or you desire further information, please write to: ND Game and Fish Department, Attn: Chief of Administrative Services, 100 N. Bismarck Expressway, Bismarck, ND 58501-5095 or to: Office of Civil Rights, Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, DC 20240.

Front Cover

A cow moose pauses during a gentle January snow east of Bismarck. Photo by Ashley Peterson.

My 2 Cents By Jeb Williams, Director

hat a difference a year makes. While winter is far from over, our fish and wildlife resources

have been given a much-needed reprieve from the record setting winter of 2022-23. While most of the state at this time last winter was completely covered with significant snowpack, most of the state today is brown with maybe some patches of snow here and there. All of us who make North Dakota our home know how much “we” like to talk about the weather. While the reasons vary of why that is, our changing weather patterns sure make it an easy conversation piece. Let’s hope come April and May we will be talking about the timely rains that have hit the landscape and that our growing season is off to a good start. During the winter months, Department staff is consistently consumed with collaborative efforts with a wide variety of the public. Whereas every other year a good chunk of time is spent working with the North Dakota legislature on policy and budget issues, which impact our agency and the sportsmen and women who are the Department’s funding source. While we consistently strive to take the opportunity to thank our partners for what they do to help support the Department’s mission, we are also working with groups and providing them the opportunities to discuss how to better balance the interests and desires of more conservation actions while being mindful of how some are impacted by those actions.

2 ■ ND OUTDOORS ■ FEBRUARY 2024

An example is while many may appreciate the growing number of elk in parts of the state, North Dakota’s landmass is largely held in private ownership and navigating the balance between increased opportunities and landowner tolerance is not something the Department takes lightly. Point being, this is one of many examples where having an open dialogue to discuss the pros and cons of various issues at least provides an opportunity for additional understanding and education to everyone involved in those conversations. While we are early in the new year, I think it’s safe to say we are off to a good start and even if winter does decide to kick in, I’m hopeful we are late enough into the game that the good condition animals are currently in will be enough to see them through and not impact the reproductive success of many species. I believe 2024 is setting up to be a great year for many outdoor adventures. The fishing should once again be “fire” (teenage slang) and considering the upland game bird success in 2023 was as high as we have seen in several years, there’s hope that will continue into the coming fall. And if the weather holds and Mother Nature gives us somewhat of a pass this winter, that will have a positive impact on our big game species, especially deer, that need a break after disease setbacks and the winter of 2023.

ND OUTDOORS TO LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST PLATFORM

podcast

ND OUTDOORS

PODCAST

HOSTED BY

CAYLA AND CASEY

DEER LOTTERY DISCUSSION EP. 24 GF.ND.GOV/NDO-PODCAST THE OFFICIAL PODCAST OF THE NORTH DAKOTA GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT.

Following a tough winter, the Game and Fish Department made available just 1,600 mule deer buck licenses and 650 doe licenses in 2023, which was 3,500 fewer licenses than 2022. 4 ■ ND OUTDOORS ■ FEBRUARY 2024

By Ron Wilson

hile nearly 11,000 fewer licenses were made available for the deer gun season in 2023 following a long and difficult winter that was especially tough on deer, the process remained the same to draw a license. The format used to present the results of the deer drawing – plus drawings for pronghorn and spring and fall turkey – is consistent with the last four years. The tables provided show the first-choice results in the first lottery. Using deer hunting unit 2J1 for any antlered deer as an example, the numbers read like this: 798 hunters with zero bonus points applied for an any antlered deer license and 188 were successful in drawing a license (188/798); 426 hunters with one bonus point applied and 235 were successful (235/426); 134 hunters with two bonus points applied and 100 were successful (100/134); and on it goes. In short, the tables show the results for those hunters with the same number of bonus points applying for a particular license in a particular hunting unit. It’s important to note that the deer lottery results do not include the 1% of licenses state law requires the Game and Fish Department to make available for nonresident applicants every year. Those nonresidents who do apply for a deer gun license in North Dakota compete only against other nonresident hunters for that 1%. Also of note, the results in the 2023 deer gun lottery show only those hunters who were in the drawing, not those hunters who bought bonus points and had no intention of hunting deer last fall. RON WILSON IS EDITOR OF NORTH DAKOTA OUTDOORS.

ND OUTDOORS ■ FEBRUARY 2024 ■ 5

2023 DEER LICENSE LOTTERY RESULTS POINTS 3 20 / 39

4 7/8

5 1/1

6 0/0

7 0/0

8 0/0

9 0/0

10+ 0/0

TOTAL APPS. 807

5/5

0/2

0/1

0/0

152

23 / 63

16 / 22

1/1

4/4

0/0

970

5/5

1/1

0/1

0/0

258

76 / 510

68 / 383

221 / 249

15 / 19

2/3

1/4

0/1

0/0

2,950

17 / 20

10 / 12

3/3

0/0

745

38 / 149

90 / 104

7/9

4/5

0/1

0/0

1,999

5 / 10

4/4

0/0

2/2

1/1

0/0

355

18 / 27

10 / 10

0/0

1,098

1/1

0/0

128

71 / 270

30 / 98

51 / 53

3/3

0/1

1/2

1/1

0/0

1,557

9 / 13

4/4

0/0

0/1

0/0

260

85 / 113

17 / 21

4/4

0/0

1/1

0/0

1,503

0/0

267

61 / 93

38 / 38

2/3

0/0

1,738

4/4

0/0

1/1

0/0

424

3/6

2/2

0/0

757

2/2

0/0

161

79 / 302

38 / 146

57 / 62

2/3

0/0

1/1

0/0

2,196

8 / 13

5/7

2/3

0/0

603

168 / 196

25 / 27

6/6

0/0

1/1

0/0

1,634

5/5

1/1

0/0

390

53 / 58

6/7

1/1

0/0

1/1

0/0

1/1

1,422

1/1

0/0

145

57 / 83

9 / 11

4/4

3/3

0/0

2,088

3/3

0/0

316

28 / 36

3/3

1/1

0/0

1,399

1/1

0/0

193

31 / 41

3/4

0/0

1,613

1/1

0/0

309

57 / 90

51 / 54

3/3

0/0

1,678

0/0

2/2

0/0

245

89 / 230

70 / 73

3/5

1/1

0/0

0/1

0/0

2,607

7/8

1/1

0/0

369

7/7

2/2

0/0

480

1/1

0/0

193 / 208

29 / 31

9/9

3/3

1/1

0/0

3,309

3/3

0/0

218

59 / 61

15 / 15

3/3

1/1

0/0

1,625

1/1

0/0

305

64 / 87

11 / 13

3/4

2/3

0/0

2,628

1/1

0/0

394

101 / 129

38 / 41

2/5

1/1

0/0

2,438

0/1

1/2

0/0

519

13 / 65

14 / 17

2/3

0/1

0/0

1,348

10 / 32

10 / 11

1/2

0/0

711

2/2

1/1

0/0

2/2

0/0

71 / 206

18 / 37

4/7

1/1

0/0

535

105 / 108

16 / 18

2/2

1/1

0/0

1/1

0/0

132

49 / 51

13 / 13

0/0

Antlerless Whitetail Deer

19 / 19

2/2

0/0

3B3

Any Antlered Deer

35 / 285

96 / 280

36 / 73

6 / 15

5/5

1/1

0/0

659

3B3

Any Antlerless Deer

105 / 111

11 / 15

2/2

0/0

130

3B3

Antlered Whitetail Deer

9 / 84

44 / 168

2/3

1/1

0/0

1/1

0/0

258

3B3

Antlerless Whitetail Deer

32 / 32

10 / 10

1/1

0/0

UNIT 1

UNIT / TYPE Any Antlered Deer

0 34 / 409

Any Antlerless Deer

122 / 137

6/7

Any Antlered Deer

76 / 558

93 / 322

Any Antlerless Deer

212 / 228

23 / 23

Any Antlered Deer

38 / 1,065

71 / 716

Any Antlerless Deer

424 / 599

42 / 65

38 / 46

Any Antlered Deer

49 / 808

61 / 582

69 / 341

Any Antlerless Deer

189 / 286

29 / 34

15 / 18

Any Antlered Deer

119 / 546

170 / 373

88 / 142

Any Antlerless Deer

111 / 115

11 / 11

1/1

Any Antlered Deer

37 / 678

66 / 451

Any Antlerless Deer

133 / 210

24 / 32

2F1

Any Antlered Deer

233 / 845

320 / 519

2F1

Any Antlerless Deer

233 / 244

14 / 14

9/9

2F2

Any Antlered Deer

119 / 771

198 / 545

143 / 288

2F2

Any Antlerless Deer

346 / 360

36 / 40

13 / 19

Any Antlered Deer

112 / 485

140 / 227

28 / 37

Any Antlerless Deer

121 / 144

15 / 15

2G1

Any Antlered Deer

60 / 972

83 / 709

2G1

Any Antlerless Deer

236 / 508

48 / 72

2G2

Any Antlered Deer

248 / 859

352 / 545

2G2

Any Antlerless Deer

351 / 354

30 / 30

Any Antlered Deer

363 / 939

325 / 414

Any Antlerless Deer

135 / 135

6/6

3/3

Any Antlered Deer

166 / 1,026

268 / 669

184 / 292

Any Antlerless Deer

270 / 277

26 / 26

10 / 10

2J1

Any Antlered Deer

188 / 798

235 / 426

100 / 134

2J1

Any Antlerless Deer

163 / 171

12 / 13

8/8

2J2

Any Antlered Deer

145 / 818

255 / 564

114 / 186

2J2

Any Antlerless Deer

260 / 267

30 / 34

5/6

2K1

Any Antlered Deer

102 / 725

203 / 517

176 / 286

2K1

Any Antlerless Deer

203 / 208

21 / 22

12 / 13

2K2

Any Antlered Deer

105 / 1,046

157 / 772

159 / 479

2K2

Any Antlerless Deer

310 / 316

25 / 31

10 / 12

Any Antlered Deer

111 / 324

74 / 110

32 / 37

Any Antlerless Deer

72 / 74

9 / 10

3A1

Any Antlered Deer

846 / 2,062

796 / 992

3A1

Any Antlerless Deer

200 / 202

13 / 13

3A2

Any Antlered Deer

827 / 1,180

348 / 365

3A2

Any Antlerless Deer

286 / 286

15 / 15

3/3

3A3

Any Antlered Deer

196 / 1,225

400 / 920

236 / 376

3A3

Any Antlerless Deer

335 / 342

38 / 39

12 / 12

3A4

Any Antlered Deer

245 / 1,158

370 / 785

207 / 319

3A4

Any Antlerless Deer

457 / 472

31 / 36

7/8

3B1

Antlered Mule Deer

15 / 608

26 / 439

27 / 215

3B1

Antlered Whitetail Deer

18 / 325

22 / 219

36 / 122

3B1

Antlerless Mule Deer

45 / 67

13 / 14

3/3

3B1

Antlerless Whitetail Deer

23 / 24

4/4

3B2

Antlered Mule Deer

49 / 283

3B2

Antlered Whitetail Deer

3B2

Antlerless Mule Deer

3B2

6 ■ ND OUTDOORS ■ FEBRUARY 2024

1 74 / 246

2 40 / 104

2023 DEER LICENSE LOTTERY RESULTS POINTS 3 14 / 49

4 8 / 10

5 1/2

6 0/0

7 0/0

8 0/0

9 0/0

10+ 0/0

TOTAL APPS. 1,066

4/4

2/2

1/1

0/0

217

60 / 83

13 / 17

7/7

1/1

0/0

692

2/2

0/0

38 / 40

2/2

1/1

0/0

3/3

0/0

Any Antlered Deer

122 / 471

185 / 338

83 / 116

16 / 21

1/1

0/2

1/1

0/0

950

3D2

Any Antlerless Deer

108 / 108

9/9

1/1

0/0

119

3D2

Antlered Whitetail Deer

48 / 65

14 / 14

1/1

0/0

3D2

Antlerless Whitetail Deer

8/8

0/0

3E1

Any Antlered Deer

61 / 501

164 / 421

77 / 153

31 / 48

15 / 16

2/2

1/1

0/0

1,142

3E1

Any Antlerless Deer

124 / 126

12 / 13

1/1

0/0

140

3E1

Antlered Whitetail Deer

41 / 149

92 / 142

5/7

0/0

1/1

0/0

299

3E1

Antlerless Whitetail Deer

7/7

4/4

1/1

0/0

3E2

Any Antlered Deer

200 / 607

255 / 358

67 / 80

9 / 12

4/4

0/0

1,061

3E2

Any Antlerless Deer

190 / 195

19 / 20

3/3

0/0

218

3E2

Antlered Whitetail Deer

94 / 132

19 / 21

0/0

1/1

0/0

154

3E2

Antlerless Whitetail Deer

12 / 12

2/2

0/0

3F1

Any Antlered Deer

131 / 404

161 / 234

46 / 55

12 / 12

3/3

1/1

0/0

709

3F1

Any Antlerless Deer

69 / 69

7/7

2/2

0/0

3F1

Antlered Whitetail Deer

116 / 117

5/5

0/0

122

3F1

Antlerless Whitetail Deer

UNIT 3C

UNIT / TYPE Any Antlered Deer

0 13 / 350

1 43 / 500

Any Antlerless Deer

174 / 184

20 / 26

3D1

Any Antlered Deer

84 / 365

123 / 218

3D1

Any Antlerless Deer

57 / 58

8/8

3D1

Antlered Whitetail Deer

29 / 55

3D1

Antlerless Whitetail Deer

3D2

2 27 / 155

3/3

0/0

3F2

Any Antlered Deer

1,013 / 1,133

148 / 148

18 / 18

6/6

3/3

1/1

0/0

1,309

3F2

Any Antlerless Deer

128 / 128

6/6

1/1

0/0

136

3F2

Antlered Whitetail Deer

130 / 130

3/3

0/0

133

3F2

Antlerless Whitetail Deer

7/7

1/1

0/0

Antlered Mule Deer

4 / 349

6 / 293

14 / 253

10 / 171

46 / 95

17 / 22

3/4

1/1

0/0

1,188

Antlered Whitetail Deer

49 / 144

59 / 77

21 / 26

2/2

1/1

2/2

0/0

252

Antlerless Mule Deer

21 / 22

5/5

3/3

1/1

0/0

Antlerless Whitetail Deer

16 / 16

3/3

1/1

0/0

2/2

0/0

Antlered Mule Deer

2 / 758

7 / 726

11 / 586

18 / 499

94 / 357

70 / 174

23 / 47

10 / 15

3/4

0/0

3,166

Antlered Whitetail Deer

121 / 133

23 / 23

14 / 14

3/3

0/0

1/1

0/0

174

Antlerless Mule Deer

74 / 86

5/6

2/5

1/2

0/0

101

Antlerless Whitetail Deer

5/6

1/1

0/0

Antlered Mule Deer

1 / 590

2 / 560

7 / 478

6 / 340

42 / 339

54 / 245

35 / 116

9 / 24

3/5

1/2

0/0

2,699

Antlered Whitetail Deer

82 / 142

20 / 21

11 / 12

4/4

1/1

0/0

180

Antlerless Mule Deer

29 / 82

5/8

4/5

0/1

3/3

1/1

0/0

100

Antlerless Whitetail Deer

3/3

0/0

Antlered Mule Deer

0 / 567

8 / 550

8 / 443

12 / 408

59 / 318

67 / 184

44 / 75

2/9

0/0

1/2

2,558

Antlered Whitetail Deer

128 / 143

15 / 15

10 / 10

4/4

1/2

1/1

0/0

176

Antlerless Mule Deer

70 / 97

7/8

6/6

1/2

1/1

0/0

114

Antlerless Whitetail Deer

9/9

2/2

0/0

Antlered Mule Deer

7 / 330

18 / 294

31 / 224

19 / 115

49 / 80

9 / 12

1/1

0/0

1,056

Antlered Whitetail Deer

71 / 71

13 / 14

4/4

1/1

0/0

Antlerless Mule Deer

39 / 47

3/4

0/0

1/1

0/0

Antlerless Whitetail Deer

1/1

0/1

0/0

Antlered Mule Deer

38 / 176

61 / 116

28 / 38

4/4

0/0

338

Antlered Whitetail Deer

94 / 94

6/6

2/2

1/1

0/0

103

Antlerless Mule Deer

20 / 20

2/2

0/0

Antlerless Whitetail Deer

3/3

0/0

MUZ

Antlered Whitetail Deer

0 / 2,101

0 / 1,563

1 / 1,496

0 / 1,256

9 / 1,104

13 / 1,128

34 / 1,182

41 / 995

41 / 735

56 / 643

305 / 1,632

13,835

MUZ

Antlerless Whitetail Deer

192 / 612

210 / 305

48 / 61

11 / 11

6/6

8/8

6/6

4/4

3/3

6/6

1,033

ND OUTDOORS ■ FEBRUARY 2024 ■ 7

2023 SPRING TURKEY LOTTERY RESULTS

How the Lottery Works There are always questions concerning the Game and Fish Department’s lottery. Using deer as the example, though turkey works the same way, this is how it works. If you fail to draw your first license choice in any given year, you receive a bonus point. You do not have to apply in the same unit, or for the same deer type each year, to qualify. You get an additional bonus point each year you apply and do not receive your first license choice. You receive additional chances in the drawing for each bonus point accumulated. For points one through three, you are entered in the drawing two times the number of points you have. So, if you have two points you would get four additional chances to be drawn, compared to a person who got his or her first choice the previous year. If you’re both competing for the same license, you have five chances, he or she has one. When you accumulate four or more points, the number of additional chances is determined by cubing your bonus points. So, when you have four points, you will be in the drawing 64 additional times, 125 times if you have five points, and so on. Bonus points are accumulated if you do not draw your first license choice. You do not receive bonus points in years you do not apply. Each drawing is still random, but the more bonus points you have, the better your odds. When you receive your first license choice, you lose your bonus points and start over. Bonus points can only be earned, or used, in the first drawing for each species in each year. The license lottery consists of four separate drawings, one for each choice on the application. First, we hold a drawing for the first unit/ first deer choice. When those are issued, we draw for the first unit/second deer choice, then the second unit/first deer choice, and finally the second unit/second deer choice.

8 ■ ND OUTDOORS ■ FEBRUARY 2024

POINTS 0

10+

TOTAL APPS.

149 / 374

86 / 120

19 / 22

2/2

0/0

518

45 / 45

1/1

0/0

91 / 124

29 / 30

0/0

154

14 / 14

0/0

318 / 318

6/6

0/0

324

349 / 382

36 / 36

2/2

0/0

420

222 / 222

6/6

1/1

0/0

229

721 / 721

4/4

0/0

1/1

0/0

726

704 / 806

119 / 120

6/6

0/0

932

682 / 682

16 / 16

0/0

698

27 / 27

0/0

493 / 738

201 / 205

15 / 15

0/0

958

20 / 57

19 / 25

3/3

0/0

82 / 82

4/4

1/1

0/0

77 / 77

0/0

24 / 28

4/4

0/0

214 / 488

141 / 154

20 / 21

3/3

0/0

666

356 / 356

3/3

0/0

359

127 / 155

14 / 14

3/3

1/1

0/0

173

289 / 541

124 / 139

8/8

0/0

688

188 / 234

27 / 27

0/0

261

UNIT

2023 FALL TURKEY LOTTERY RESULTS POINTS UNIT

TOTAL APPS.

0 8 / 117

1 12 / 49

2 7 / 17

3 9 / 12

4 5/5

5 0/0

6 0/0

7 0/0

8 0/0

9 0/0

10+ 0/0

22 / 22

2/2

0/0

108 / 108

2/2

0/0

110

14 / 14

0/0

174 / 174

1/1

0/0

175

105 / 138

50 / 50

10 / 10

0/0

198

130 / 130

3/3

0/0

133

221 / 221

2/2

0/0

223

313 / 313

41 / 41

7/7

0/0

361

238 / 239

8/8

0/0

247

21 / 21

0/0

262 / 270

53 / 53

5/5

0/0

1/1

0/0

329

21 / 21

5/5

0/0

36 / 36

1/1

0/0

76 / 76

0/0

8/8

2/2

0/0

151 / 171

54 / 55

11 / 11

1/1

0/0

238

135 / 135

3/3

0/0

138

74 / 74

15 / 15

3/3

0/0

155 / 183

55 / 56

17 / 17

0/0

256

35 / 59

15 / 17

6/6

0/0

200

2023 PRONGHORN LOTTERY RESULTS POINTS UNIT 02A

UNIT / TYPE Any Pronghorn

10+

TOTAL APPS.

0 / 256

0 / 202

0 / 196

1 / 195

2 / 214

3 / 141

0 / 100

0 / 56

3 / 45

1 / 26

1 / 15

1,446

02B

Any Pronghorn

0 / 202

0 / 229

0 / 238

0 / 196

1 / 214

3 / 151

2 / 112

3 / 79

4 / 57

1 / 45

0 / 15

1,538

03A

Any Pronghorn

0 / 88

0 / 75

0 / 65

0 / 69

2 / 66

0 / 51

3 / 39

0 / 25

4 / 23

5 / 16

1/5

522

03B

Any Pronghorn

0 / 211

0 / 206

0 / 187

0 / 182

4 / 176

4 / 142

2 / 131

3 / 81

1 / 55

7 / 57

6 / 29

1,457

04A

Any Pronghorn

0 / 310

0 / 360

0 / 330

0 / 328

3 / 267

3 / 189

6 / 196

4 / 124

1 / 60

2 / 27

5 / 20

2,211

04C

Any Pronghorn

0 / 86

0 / 78

1 / 67

3 / 64

3 / 42

2 / 39

5 / 20

3 / 19

5/9

1/6

2/3

433

05A

Any Pronghorn

0 / 166

0 / 97

0 / 95

0 / 93

4 / 73

3 / 50

6 / 39

1 / 19

0/9

2/6

1/2

649

07A

Any Pronghorn

0 / 264

0 / 190

0 / 178

0 / 146

2 / 117

1 / 95

2 / 51

0 / 44

1 / 15

2/8

0/6

1,114

Just eight hunting units were open for the 2023 pronghorn season.

2023 Lottery Notes The number of deer gun licenses made available to hunters: • 2016 – 49,000 deer gun licenses. • 2017 – 54,500 deer gun licenses. • 2018 – 55,150 deer gun licenses. • 2019 – 65,500 deer gun licenses. • 2020 – 69,050 deer gun licenses. • 2021 – 72,200 deer gun licenses. • 2022 – 64,200 deer gun licenses. • 2023 – 53,400 deer gun licenses. Drawing a buck license in 2023 was, again, not easy. Randy Meissner, Game and Fish Department licensing manager, said after 11,810 resident gratis licenses and 534 nonresident licenses were subtracted from the overall license allocation, just 21,460 buck licenses were available for the 61,914 hunters who applied for them as their first choice in the lottery.

2023 Lottery Stats DEER

• 75,117 – Number of people – not including 12,085 gratis applicants – who applied for deer gun lottery licenses, down from 76,783 in 2022. • 42.65 – Percent of successful applicants, excluding gratis and nonresidents, for deer gun and muzzleloader licenses. • 20 – Maximum number of bonus points for any applicant (nonresident mule deer buck applicants). • 12,520 – Applicants with four or more bonus points. • 13.74 – Percent of applicants with four or more bonus points. • 53.35 – Percent of applicants with four or more bonus points who applied for a muzzleloader buck license.

TURKEY

• 7,412 – Number of spring turkey licenses available to hunters, down from 7,647 in 2022. • 84.6 – Percent of successful applicants for the spring season. • 81.8 – Percent of applicants who received their first license choice for the spring season. • 4,435 – Number of fall turkey licenses available, up from 3,975 in 2022. • 72.3 – Percent of successful applicants for the fall season. • 70.8 – Percent of applicants who received their first license choice for the fall season.

PRONGHORN

• 8 – Number of hunting units open in a limited pronghorn season. • 420 – Number of licenses available to hunters, down 1,550 from 2022. • 9,375 – Number of people who applied for available licenses, down 6,306 from 2022.

Whitetail doe.

ND OUTDOORS ■ FEBRUARY 2024 ■ 9

2023 Enforcement Division Review By Scott Winkelman

n our mission to protect and preserve North Dakota’s natural resources, while lending guidance and aid to those who enjoy the outdoors, 2023 was a good year. One of the standout accomplishments of our enforcement division in 2023 was our swift and effective response to multiple search and rescue operations. In the face of challenging weather conditions and diverse terrains, our officers demonstrated exceptional skill and commitment to ensuring the safety of outdoor enthusiasts. Their efforts undoubtedly saved lives and reinforced our division’s reputation for excellence in emergency response. Behind the scenes, our enforcement division undertook and successfully concluded several large, long-term investigations, targeting illegal activities that posed a threat to North Dakota’s wildlife and ecosystems. The

meticulous efforts of our officers led to the apprehension of individuals involved in wildlife trafficking, poaching and otherother and illicitillicit activities. activities. These These victories victories not only not only uphold uphold the principles the principles of conservation of conservation but but alsoalso sendsend a clear a clear message that illegalthat message actions illegal will actions not gowill unpunished. not go unpunished. Recognizing the vital role of a well-trained and motivated team, we implemented strategies to enhance recruitment and retention. We focused on creating a supportive and rewarding work environment, providing ongoing training opportunities, and fostering a strong sense of camaraderie among officers. These efforts resulted in a more robust and resilient team, ready to face the challenges of protecting North Dakota’s natural resources. As I look back on the accomplishments of our enforcement division in 2023, it’s evident that the dedication and hard work of our team left an indelible mark on the conservation efforts of North Dakota. The multiple successful search and rescue operations, the completion of complex investigations, and the improvements in recruitment and retention collectively contribute to a legacy of excellence that will undoubtedly continue in the years to come. The North Dakota Game and Fish enforcement division remains steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding the state’s wildlife and preserving its natural beauty for future generations. SCOTT WINKELMAN SCOTT WINKELMANisISthe THE Game GAME andAND Fish FISH Department’s chief DEPARTMENT’S CHIEF warden. WARDEN.

Corey Erck, Department game warden, checks a hunter’s license during the first week of the pheasant season. 10 ■ ND OUTDOORS ■ FEBRUARY 2023

ASHLEY PETERSON

From left, Scott Peterson, deputy director, Jonathan Tofteland, game warden, and Jeb Williams, director.

Tofteland Named Wildlife Officer of the Year Jonathan Tofteland, North Dakota Game and Fish Department district game warden in Bottineau, is the state’s 2023 Wildlife Officer of the Year. Tofteland was honored by Shikar-Safari Club International, a private conservation organization that annually recognizes outstanding wildlife officers in each state. In a nomination letter sent to Shikar-Safari, chief warden Scott Winkelman said Tofteland’s district includes the Lake Metigoshe area along with the rest of Bottineau County and the Turtle Mountains. “Warden Tofteland patrols by vehicle, boat, ATV and snowmobile to accomplish his enforcement goals in all seasons. He has assumed extra duties, such as taser instructor, and has proven his dedication to his chosen profession by serving as treasurer on the North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers Association Museum board,” Winkelman said. “He has a tremendous grasp of the area within his district, the landowners therein and the natural resources that he is sworn to protect. Warden Tofteland is always willing to assist neighboring wardens with any investigations.”

Also, district game wardens Sedlacek; Erik Schmidt, Linton; James Myhre, New Rockford; Shawn Sperling, Minot; Ken Skuza, Riverdale; Keenan Snyder, Williston; Courtney Springer, Elgin; Zane Manhart, Golva; and investigator Blake Riewer, Grand Forks, were recognized for their efforts as field training officers for committing countless hours to training new wardens.

Turkey Federation Names Schmidt Top Warden Erik Schmidt, North Dakota Game and Fish Department district game warden, Linton, was named the National Wild Turkey Federation’s Wildlife Officer of the Year for 2023. Scott Winkelman, Department chief warden, said Schmidt is well-deserving of the award as he is a dedicated warden and is unwavering in his efforts to safeguard North Dakota’s natural resources and those people who participate in the outdoors.

In addition, warden Mike Sedlacek, of Fargo was named North Dakota’s Boating Officer of the Year. His district includes rivers, lakes and reservoirs in eastern North Dakota. Chief game warden Scott Winkelman said warden Sedlacek is experienced, knowledgeable and dedicated, makes good decisions and serves the citizens in an outstanding manner. ND OUTDOORS ■ FEBRUARY 2023 ■ 11

2023 Summary of Violations GENERAL

BIG GAME

MISCELLANEOUS

Illegal taking/possession of big game

Use of motor vehicle off established trail

Possession of controlled substance

Failure to wear fluorescent orange

Hunting on posted land without permission

Possession of drug paraphernalia

Tagging violations

Aid in concealment of unlawful game

Minor in possession

CWD violations

Loaded firearm in a motor vehicle

Criminal trespass

Killing wrong species or sex

440-yard violation

Other miscellaneous

Shining big game

Littering

TOTAL

Other big game violations

Hunting in unharvested field

TOTAL

151

Other general violations

TOTAL

168

SMALL GAME Using gun able to hold more than 3 shells

Hunting/fishing/trapping without proper license

250

Exceeding limit

Failure to carry license on person

289

Failure to leave identification or sex of game

Misrepresentation on license application

Killing wrong sex or species

Other licensing violations

Wanton waste

TOTAL

9 6

CITATIONS 2023 – TOP 10 COUNTIES

WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREAS/REFUGE 26

Use of unlicensed or unnumbered boat

122

Possession of glass beverage containers

Failure to display boat registration

164

Camping violations

Prohibited use of motor vehicles

Inadequate number of PFDs

215

PLOTS access violations

Water skiing violations

Other WMA/refuge violations

Reckless or negligent operation

TOTAL

Operating vessel under influence/intoxicated

Other boating violations

175

TOTAL

734 FISHING

Exceeding limit

109

Fishing in closed/restricted area

Fishing with illegal bait

Paddlefish violations

ANS violations

Other fishing violations

130

TOTAL

352 FURBEARER

Furbearer violations

TOTAL

INCIDENTS 2023 – TOP 10 COUNTIES

Tree stand violations

575

Failure to obey posted regulations BOATING

2,548

(An incident is defined as any situation that requires a response from a game warden. It does not have to be a crime. The situation could be, for example, a stranded angler.) • Ramsey – 197 • Cass - 149 • Barnes – 192 • Mountrail - 144 • Williams – 170 • Burleigh - 137 • McLean - 165 • Ward - 132 • McKenzie - 153 • Stark - 122 Total - 3,229

76 323

Operating without lights at night

11 11

GRAND TOTAL

Illegal possession/taking

TOTAL

COMMERCIAL Commercial violations Total

LICENSING

Hunting before/after legal hours

Other small game violations

11 138

• Ramsey - 262 • Williams - 141 • Benson - 131 • Barnes - 129 • Mountrail- 114

• Burleigh - 104 • McKenzie - 98 • Logan - 77 • Stark- 77 • McLean - 74 Total - 2,548

“In 2023, our wardens made 53,411 field contacts, which is a significant number because it shows that we are reaching a lot of people recreating in the field or on the water. A field contact is any time one of our wardens interacts with someone in the field while checking their license, bag limit, whatever. These interactions allow our wardens to answer questions and point people in the right direction. As I’ve said before, it’s a friendly interaction and is good all around.” SAID SCOTT WINKELMAN, CHIEF WARDEN.

12 ■ ND OUTDOORS ■ FEBRUARY 2023

For an inside look into the life of a game warden, check out Behind the Badge.

gf.nd.gov

ND OUTDOORS ■ FEBRUARY 2024 ■ 13

D E T A O TRIMMING A BL

BULLHEAD POPULATION By Ron Wilson

he North Dakota Game and Fish Department introduced a predator into a Morton County lake in 2023 in hopes of controlling a bloated bullhead population that provides little value to

anglers. The introduction of thousands of channel catfish into the 278-acre Sweet Briar Lake last spring was the start of a twoyear collaborative study with the University of North Dakota.

14 ■ ND OUTDOORS ■ FEBRUARY 2024

“Every lake only has a certain amount of energy within that system, and there’s only a certain amount of space for the fish in there.”

“Sweet Briar Lake was a good candidate for this study because it does have a dense population of bullheads. While it is still a very popular fishery, close to the large population center of Bismarck-Mandan, the quality of fishing just isn’t where we want it to be right now,” said Paul Bailey, Department south central district fisheries supervisor. “The bullhead population has really impacted the angling value of Sweet Briar Lake, so it was a good

candidate lake for us to investigate this technique. We’ve had success using channel catfish to control black bullhead populations in some smaller fisheries, so this was an effort to try and scale up this operation to see if we could have success controlling black bullheads in a larger fishery.” Sweet Briar isn’t the only North Dakota fishery that has an abundance of bullheads, which isn’t a good thing when you consider a lake can harbor only so much life. “Every lake only has a certain amount of energy within that system, and there’s only a certain amount of space for the fish in there,” said Tyler Bennett, UND master’s student conducting the field sampling in the study. “When you have these overabundant black bullhead populations, that takes away space and productivity that can go into your more desirable game fish populations like walleye, northern pike, yellow perch or bluegills.” Bailey added that while the goal is to significantly trim the bullhead population, an added benefit is the thousands of catfish released into the lake over time will also provide some value to anglers.

ND OUTDOORS ■ FEBRUARY 2024 ■ 15

Tyler Bennett, UND master’s student holds a black bullhead (left) and a channel catfish netted from Sweet Briar Lake for research purposes.

The roughly 4,000 catfish, weighing about 2 pounds on average, stocked in Sweet Briar for the study were trapped in Lake Oahe in April 2023. “It was a big undertaking and that represented just shy of 10,000 pounds of catfish,” Bailey said. “It was a pretty labor-intensive process, which is another reason we would like some better guidance on this to make sure that we’re spending our manpower and our resources in the best way possible to utilize these catfish for controlling nuisance bullhead populations.” In spring, Bennett and crew conducted a mark-recapture estimate on bullheads in the lake. Of those bullheads captured in nets, they clipped the adipose fins on fish longer that 6 inches. “And what we ended up finding out is that there are a lot of bullheads in Sweet Briar,” Bennett said. “Our population estimate was

16 ■ ND OUTDOORS ■ FEBRUARY 2024

over a quarter million. That’s an extremely large population for a 200-plus acre lake. That’s just the fish greater than 6 inches and there was probably as many, if not more, smaller bullheads that we didn’t take into consideration.” Throughout the study, Bennett and Department fisheries personnel have netted a number of catfish. These fish were then taken to a lab to determine what was making up their diet. “So, once we have that information, we can then see what’s the importance of black bullheads to a channel catfish’s diet in Sweet Briar,” Bennett said. “Are bullheads an important prey item for channel catfish? If so, to what extent? And do we then expect to see the channel catfish then predate so heavily on bullheads that that population might collapse?” It’s been revealed in the still-young study that, yes, channel catfish are preying on Sweet

Briar’s abundant bullhead population, but they’re are also opportunistic when it comes to eating. “So far, we’ve seen that these catfish have certainly fed fairly well on black bullheads, especially when we initially stocked them this spring,” Bailey said. “Then these catfish tended to shift their diet a little bit during summer, eating more crayfish, and because we had a good hatch of grasshoppers, they were eating grasshoppers that ended up in the lake.” In spring, when the catfish were introduced to Sweet Briar, Bennett said bullheads made up about 40% of total mass within a catfish’s diet. The hope was, as the grasshopper population thinned, along with other summertime foraging items, that the catfish would return to concentrating on bullheads. Because fisheries managers have so few tools to manage troublesome bullhead populations in North Dakota waters, it’s hoped the findings from the two-year study will reveal a solution.

“What we wish to gain is some better guidance on how to use this technique of using channel catfish to control bullheads,” Bailey said. “If so, we’ll be able to apply it to other lakes that are having issues with bullhead overabundance, with the idea of improving angling opportunities in those waters as well.”

RON WILSON IS EDITOR OF NORTH DAKOTA OUTDOORS.

“It was a big undertaking and that represented just shy of 10,000 pounds of catfish.”

Channel catfish netted in spring during pike spawning operations on Lake Oahe.

ND OUTDOORS ■ FEBRUARY 2024 ■ 17

Hunter Education

Quarter Million Graduates and Counting By Ron Wilson

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s hunter education program, required of anyone born after Dec. 31, 1961, is on pace to hit 250,000 graduates sometime this spring. This milestone is significant for a program that got its start in the state in 1979. “Hitting a quarter million graduates is a testament to all our volunteers from Grand Forks to Bowman who teach hunter ed in their communities. And some of them have been teaching since the program’s inception,” said Brian Schaffer, Department hunter education coordinator. “It’s really quite the accomplishment in a state that doesn’t even have a million people living in it, that over the last 40 or so years we’ve taught over a quarter million hunter education students and made hunting safer, not just for hunters, but for everyone in North Dakota.” Hunter education was developed in the 1950s in different parts of the country and

18 ■ ND OUTDOORS ■ FEBRUARY 2024

Volunteer hunter education instructor, William Bahm of almont, and the many others just like him around the state are the backbone of the Game and Fish Department’s longrunning hunter education program.

implemented in North Dakota 40-plus years ago by state law, with the goal of reducing the number of accidents occurring in the field. “Primarily in the 1950s, it was looking at reducing the number of fatalities that were occurring and it’s done a great job of doing that nationwide,” Schaffer said. “What we want people to take away from hunter ed is the basics of firearm safety. “A lot of students are handling firearms for the first time in hunter education. Handling firearms safely isn’t something you learn in a classroom in 14 hours, it’s something you need to be dedicated to for your entire life,” he added. “It’s important for everyone to remember that hunter education and firearm safety is every-

Two hunter education students at an in-person class offered in Almont earlier this winter.

one’s responsibility. Sometimes that’s just a simple conversation with people we are hunting with or for you to think about it before you load your firearm and head into a field.” While the primary focus of the program is firearm safety, whether that’s storing firearms in the home, transporting them in a vehicle or using them out in the field, students are also being introduced to wildlife conservation, landowner relations and basic safety in the field as a hunter. The Game and Fish Department offers two options for fulfilling the hunter education requirement in North Dakota. “The first option is what the majority of people have taken over the last 40-plus years and that’s the traditional course, which is 14 hours of in-person learning. The number of days can vary, but the total is 14 hours of instruction with some of our volunteer instructors,” Schaffer said. “The other option, which is gaining popularity just due to busier lives and busier schedules, is our home study option, which still requires two meetings in person, the first night and the last night. “The first night we go over North Dakota specific information, and then it’s heavily focused on firearm handling and how to be safe in the field with firearms,” he added. “And then you go home, and you have two weeks to complete the online material at your pace. Then you come back on the last night of class, and you are required to take and pass the same written and practical exam as a traditional class student.” ND OUTDOORS ■ FEBRUARY 2023 ■ 19

One of the biggest hurdles for students is simply finding a hunter education course to fit their schedules. Understanding that, now is the time to find a course near you. “With our hunting season wrapped up, people aren’t really thinking about the next hunting season, but with hunter education, the vast majority of our classes are taught from about the middle of January through June,” Schaffer said. “That was historically the case just due to everyone being in the deer lottery in June. While we started teaching a few other courses, trying to get courses developed throughout summer, the vast majority still occur during the winter months here in North Dakota. If you used the apprentice option last year or you’re in need of hunter education, now would be the time to start looking.” Schaffer said some of North Dakota’s smaller communities offer just one to two courses per

20 ■ ND OUTDOORS ■ FEBRUARY 2024

Brian Schaffer, Department hunter education coordinator, helps out at an in-person class in Almont.

year. And in the larger cities, like Bismarck, Grand Forks and Fargo, hunter education courses can fill up quick. “It’s important to get into those classes the earlier the better if it fits your schedule,” he said. “But just because you don’t get into that first one in some of our larger locations, that doesn’t mean there’s not going to be more courses available throughout the year. The online course listing only shows current courses that are available, and we don’t list those courses more than two to three weeks out … so keep an eye out.” The Game and Fish Department’s hunter education program has long been driven by dedicated volunteers across the state. Some, as Schaffer mentioned, have taught young (and old) would-be hunters for 40-plus years, while others are pretty new to the fold. Yet, like the sometimes-difficult task of finding a class that fits the student’s schedule, luring new volunteers into the mix can be challenging. “We’re always looking for people with a passion for sharing our knowledge, educating students and fostering North Dakota’s long and storied hunting heritage,” Schaffer said. “And it’s not just teaching a 14-hour course in your community. If you just want to be involved a little bit and, say, help out on test night in your community, just give us a call and we can start that process. There’s a way to get involved in your community and we certainly appreciate any help we can get.”

RON WILSON IS EDITOR OF NORTH DAKOTA OUTDOORS.

A Course Near You If you were born after 1961, are 12 years or older, you must take an in-person or home study certified hunter education course before you can get a firearm or bowhunting license in North Dakota. Individuals interested in taking a hunter education class in 2024 must click on the education link at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov. To register for a class, click on “enroll” next to the specific class, and follow the simple instructions. Personal information is required. Classes are listed by city and can also be sorted by start date. Classes will be added throughout the year as they become finalized. Individuals interested in receiving a notice by email or SMS text message when each hunter education class is added, can click on the “subscribe to news and alerts” link below the news section on the Game and Fish home page. Check the box labeled “hunter education” under the education program updates. Students must turn 12 during the calendar year to take the home study course, and age 11 during the calendar year to take the traditional in-person class.

Hunter Education classes gf.nd.gov ND OUTDOORS ■ FEBRUARY 2024 ■ 21

BUFFALOBERRY PATCH

Record Number of Geese Tallied in Survey The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s annual midwinter waterfowl survey in early January was a record breaker. During the aerial midwinter survey, one of the longest running coordinated migratory bird surveys in North America, biologists counted more than 300,000 Canada geese. “Our old record was about 222,000 Canada geese, so we blew that out of the water,” said Mike Szymanski, Department migratory game bird management supervisor. Compared to last year when winter came early and stayed late, there was a lot more open water along the Missouri River System to hold birds. Last winter, for example, Lake Sakakawea iced over on Dec. 18, making it one of the earliest dates for freeze up in recent years. “We had a really nice December … a lot of areas were almost 10 degrees above average for the entire month of December,” Szymanski said. “There was a lot of open water under nice conditions, with no foraging restraints on the birds. That translated into our wintering waterfowl estimates. Last year, we really didn’t need to survey any of Lake Sakakawea because of early freeze up. But this year the lake was open from about the Van Hook Arm down to the dam and the U.S. Highway 83 causeway.” Interestingly, biologists counted more than 9,000 snow geese during the survey. “That was kind of surprising. We’ve always had some snow geese here and there, but most years we have zero,” Szymanski said. “To have sizable numbers like that is pretty interesting.” Also, biologists typically see around 5,000 to 10,000 mallards during the survey. During this year’s midwinter count, the tally jumped to 43,000 birds. While that sounds like a sizeable increase, Szymanski said the number of mallards tallied, in the grand scheme 22 ■ ND OUTDOORS ■ FEBRUARY 2024

of things, was simply a drop in the bucket when it comes to continental populations. “We really don’t have that many mallards in North Dakota during the midwinter survey,” he said. All states in the Central Flyway participate in the midwinter survey during the same time frame to reduce the possibility of counting birds more than once. “What we learn in the surveys is used primarily to estimate some of the species that we don’t have very good breeding count estimates for, especially arctic nesting birds,” Szymanski said. “It also helps paint a picture of waterfowl distributions, kind of in the middle of hunting season for some of the wintering states. And also changes in wintering distributions over time.”

Winter Wildlife Advice Wildlife managers urge outdoor enthusiasts to consider where they recreate during North Dakota’s leanest months to spare already stressed animals simply trying to survive the elements. This advice is true during any Northern Plains winter. Game and Fish Department managers understand North Dakotans want to get outdoors and have fun in winter because we have several months of it. Even so, the tougher the winter is, it is important that people riding snowmobiles, shed hunting, cross-country skiing or doing whatever are cognizant about where wildlife are and to view them from a distance. That means waiting to shed hunt until later in the spring so that you’re not pushing deer in and out of thermal cover where they’re trying to just conserve energy. Animals forced into the open are exposed to the elements a lot more, which adds further stress. Also, people need to realize that harassing wildlife from snowmobiles or other machines is illegal in North Dakota. It’s common for snowmobilers and others to ride in areas where snow has accumulated, such as near shelterbelts and other wooded habitat because that’s where the drifts are, but people also must realize there could be deer or other wildlife within those areas to get out of the weather. So, every time animals are pushed from

those areas, it increases the amount of energy they expend to survive the next day. These same warnings, for shed hunters, skiers and others, also apply on Game and Fish Department owned or operated wildlife management areas where many animals gather to weather the winter months.

Spring Light Goose Conservation Order North Dakota’s spring light goose conservation order opens February 17 and continues through May 12. Residents must have a valid current season 202324 (valid through March 31) or 2024-25 (required April 1) combination license, or a small game, and general game and habitat license. Nonresidents need a 2024 spring light goose conservation order license. The cost is $50 and is valid statewide. Nonresidents who hunt in the spring remain eligible to buy a fall season license. The spring license does not count against the 14-day fall waterfowl hunting season regulation. In addition, nonresident youth under age 16 can purchase a license at the resident fee. A federal duck stamp is not required for either residents or nonresidents. Resident and nonresident licenses are available online at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov. Hunters must register annually with the Harvest Information Program prior to hunting in each state. The HIP number can be obtained online. The HIP number obtained for North Dakota’s spring conservation order is also valid for North Dakota’s fall hunting season. The spring conservation order is only open to light geese – snows, blues, and Ross’s. Species identification is important because white-fronted and Canada geese travel with light geese. The conservation order is closed to whitefronts, Canada geese, swans and all other migratory birds.

Youth Conservation and Leadership Summer Camp The 1st Battalion of North Dakota Waterfowl Brigade will take place June 3-7 at the 4-H Center in Washburn. NDWTFL is a hands-on, five-day, immersive learning experience for youth ages 13-17. The camp is designed to educate participants about the importance of wetland ecosystems, waterfowl biology, flock dynamics, shooting skills and safety, stewardship, public speaking, leadership development, and more. The deadline to apply is March 15. NDWTFL is a program of Texas Brigades, a Texas-based 501(c)(3) focused on educating and empowering adolescents to become conservation ambassadors. Additional information and applications can be found at texasbrigades.org/applications.

Hunter Harvest Surveys Important While North Dakota’s 2023 hunting seasons have come and gone, hunter success, or lack thereof, still matters to wildlife managers. The North Dakota Game and Fish Department has conducted hunter harvest surveys for more than a half-century, using the findings to help manage the state’s wildlife populations. Thousands of surveys are sent annually, and participation is strongly urged because hunter harvest plays a noted role, for example, in setting hunting license numbers for the upcoming season. Hunters are surveyed about their hunting activity because understanding how many animals were removed from the population is an important ecological piece of information. The information collected from the hunter harvest surveys are compared against where the Department stands with its harvest objectives at any point in a given year. And that can mean, in some cases, license increases. But ultimately these surveys are important because they inform the recommendations passed along to the governor during the proclamation setting process. ND OUTDOORS ■ FEBRUARY 2024 ■ 23

Thousands of big game, small game, waterfowl, swan, turkey and furbearer questionnaires will be emailed to randomly selected hunters. A follow-up survey will be mailed to those who did not respond to the first survey. Not everyone who, say, receives a hunter harvest survey for the 2023 deer gun season will have harvested a deer, but those hunters still need to fill them out and return their surveys. The surveys are designed so that a random sample of hunters receive them, and it’s understood that some hunters weren’t successful, which in a lot of ways is just as important as knowing who did harvest a deer. The hunter harvest surveys are short and take very little time to complete. A follow-up survey will be mailed to those who did not respond to the emailed survey. The more surveys returned to the Department from hunters, the more robust the statistical information is to help produce better harvest estimates.

Big Three Lottery Elk, moose and bighorn sheep applications must be submitted online before midnight March 27. To apply online, visit the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov. Paper applications are not available. Hunters who have received a license through the lottery in the past are not eligible to apply for that species again. In 2023, 26,386 people applied for the 253 moose licenses; 24,091 applied for the 559 elk licenses; and 20,290 applied for the five bighorn sheep licenses.

STAFF NOTES Jensen Retires from Agency

Krebs New Fisheries Hire

Bill Jensen, longtime North Dakota Game and Fish Department employee, retired in January after 33 years with the agency. Jensen was a big game management biologist in Bismarck at the time of his retirement.

Ethan Krebs was hired earlier this winter as a fisheries biological technician for the Game and Fish Department in Williston. A graduate of Valley City State University, Krebs spent three summers as a fisheries seasonal in Riverdale and was later hired as a long-term seasonal before accepting the promotion in Williston.

Harling Wins PF Award

From left, Emily Spolyar, Pheasants Forever, and Nate Harling. 24 ■ ND OUTDOORS ■ FEBRUARY 2024

Nate Harling, Game and Fish Department habitat manager, received the Pheasants Forever Wildlife Partner of the Year award in January. “From the field to the board room, to the capitol building, Nate Harling is on the frontlines of creating habitat. He’s shown time and time again that there’s no one more willing to roll up their sleeves alongside us to work through challenges and find creative solutions,” said a Pheasants Forever spokesperson. “His thoughtful way of analyzing and approaching things makes every team and project he’s committed to better. Not to mention, he’s a passionate hunter. The wildlife of North Dakota and those who care about that wildlife are lucky to have Nate Harling sharing his time, talent, and passion with us.”

BACKCAST M

y office is located at the south end of Game and Fish headquarters in Bismarck. I haven’t moved since I walked into the building 20 years

ago. Two of the maps that hang on one wall frame a shoulder mount of a mule deer buck. The maps provide quick insight and the locations of Game and Fish Department wildlife management areas and managed fishing waters. On the opposite side of the room, three large bookshelves house multiple copies of North Dakota OUTDOORS magazines dating back to the early 1930s, hundreds of photographic slides, old black and white prints, three outdated dictionaries and a first-place trophy for a 4-H club crow control contest from 1947. Over time, I’ve seen deer, geese, ducks, squirrels and wild turkeys out my office window. While I can’t see Hay Creek from here, I know where it’s at and I remember hanging over the wooden railing of the small bridge in 2011 as chinook salmon, seemingly so out of place that far from the Missouri River, went through the motions of spawning for naught. While biologists at the time knew how the salmon ended up where they did, by exiting the Missouri and pointing their noses upstream for roughly 6 miles in Apple and Hay creeks, I still scratch my head at the illogical route I took to get here. In this office. Working for this agency. As I look back, which is something I can’t help as the end of my career is way closer than the beginning, I’m certain Bill had much to do with it. This is the way I remember it: Roughly 30 years ago I was sitting in a mammalogy class at the University of North Dakota, a required course to complete a wildlife

By Ron Wilson

biology degree that I was certain would get me hired at the Game and Fish Department. During a break in, say, examining the skull structure of Sylvilagus floridanus (eastern cottontail), Bill Jensen, Game and Fish big game biologist, gave a presentation on trapping mule deer in the badlands for research purposes. It was a good presentation, teamed with some slides of him wrestling mule deer to fit them with radio collars. Cool stuff. Inspiring to those of us who envisioned ourselves wandering the rugged up and down of the badlands doing similar work. During the question-and-answer part of his talk, one of my classmates asked for advice on getting hired at the agency. Bill asked for a show of hands of those of who did summer intern work at the Game and Fish? The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service? Ducks Unlimited? And so on. I was the only student who didn’t raise their hand. I understood what he was saying, the significance of getting your foot in the door before the door was open. As an older than average student — easily the oldest in the class — it was obvious I was up a creek, didn’t even know where the door was located. I switched majors before Bill made the drive home from Grand Forks to Bismarck. I was reminded of this when Bill announced his retirement earlier this winter after 33 years with the Department. While I certainly won’t make it that long, I did have the chance to thank him for helping me eventually find the door.

RON WILSON is editor of North Dakota OUTDOORS.

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North Dakota Outdoors Magazine North Dakota Game and Fish Department 100 N. Bismarck Expressway Bismarck, ND 58501 To renew your subscription or change your address, call 701-328-6300 or go to gf.nd.gov/buy-apply.

You just never know what Mother Nature is going to toss our way here on the Northern Plains. Last winter, ice anglers struggled to get on many of their favorite waters as 100 inches of snow or so blocked access. While waiting for things to finally freeze up and make for safe fishing conditions was an issue earlier this winter, accessing Game and Fish Department managed waters hasn’t been a concern so far. PHOTO BY TY STOCKTON

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